Evolve, Adapt, and Overcome or Become Obsolete

Bill France Sr Photo – Getty Images

With the recent announcement of the new format for the Monster Energy All-Star Race to add a tire option, spirited discussions began immediately. After eight races with the new Stage racing at every type of track except a road course, most people have settled on their opinion of its entertainment value and impact on the sport. Some of the calls on the talk shows seem negative, but look at what changes the sanctioning body has made to improve the beloved sport of stock car racing.

From the beginning, NASCAR founder William Henry Getty France, known as ‘Big Bill’ ruled his creation with a ‘Iron Fist,’ crushing two different attempts by the drivers to form a union. The first was in 1961 when Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa and star driver Curtis Turner attempted to form the Federation of Professional Athletes prominently featuring NASCAR drivers.  France prohibited any union member from participating in any NASCAR events with authority: Continue reading

Sneaky Fast Kenseth Comes from Nowhere to Fourth

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DeWalt Toyota, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 21, 2017 in Bristol, Tennessee. Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Throughout most of Monday’s Food City 500, Matt Kenseth was all but invisible.

As the track changed throughout the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, however, Kenseth’s fortunes changed for the better. Continue reading

Pit Road Speeding Penalty Costly to Truex, Too.

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, pits along with others during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 24, 2017 in Bristol, Tennessee. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

No one at Bristol could run the bottom of the track better than Martin Truex Jr., who led 116 laps in Monday’s rain-delayed Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Truex lost some of his advantage when the potency of the VHT track sealer, which added grip to the bottom lane, began to fade as the race progressed. But the real whammy for Truex was a penalty for speeding on pit road incurred under the final caution on lap 465. Continue reading

Pit Road Penalty Quashes Kyle Larson’s Winning Chances

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, leads a pack of car during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 24, 2017 in Bristol, Tennessee. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Kyle Larson broke a record, in a race that ran like … well, a broken record.

Starting from the pole in Monday’s rain-delayed Food City 500 at Bristol motor Speedway, Larson led the first 202 laps of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. Never before had a driver for Chip Ganassi Racing led that many laps in a single race in NASCAR’s premier series. Continue reading

Jimmie Johnson Stays Hot with Monday Victory at Bristol

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A week off and an extra day at Bristol did nothing to break Jimmie Johnson’s momentum.

Grabbing the lead from Kevin Harvick on lap 480 of 500 in Monday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Johnson stayed out front for the final 21 laps and beat Clint Bowyer to the finish line by 1.199 seconds. Continue reading